Improvement in shaft-furnaces for treating ores



IMETEM. PHOTOUTHGHRAPHEN, WASHINGTON. D Cv M. D. BRETT.

` SHAFT-FURNACE'S FUR TREATING RE. No.188098, Patented March 6,1877.

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UNITED STATES PATENT CJEEicE.4

MATHEW D. BRETT, OF BOULDER, COLORADO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHAFT-FURNACES FOR TREATING ORES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,098, dated March 6, 1877; application filed September 8. 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATHEw D. BRETT, of Boulder, in the county of Boulder and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft-Furnaces for Treating Ores, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to that class of furnaces used for oxidizing and reducing metallic ores.

My improvement consists, first, in the combination of a vertical pipe, down which the ore is showered onto the hearth, and a base having an open front, the pipe being surround-ed by an annular lue, through which the products of combustion pass upwardly.

My improvement consists, secondly, in comhinin g with the pipe and base two furnaces arranged in a peculiar mannerone furnace so located as to direct the product of combustion in front of and around the base, and the other furnace in such a position as to maintain a flame at the exit of the pipe.

My improvement consists, thirdly, in combining a hearth and furnace with an annular flue, for the passage of the products of combustion, a side due communicating with a smoke-stack, and a dust-chamber formed by the continuation of 'the stack, opening downwardly past the side due.

Myimprovement consists, fourthly, in a combination of devices forming au improved construction of ore-furnace, as hereinafter more fully explained. A processin which this apparatus is employed forms the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a horizontal section on the line xx, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 `is a vertical longitudinal section on the line w1 w1, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line x2 m2, Figs. l and 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line :c3 m3, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line x4 m4, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line x5 m5, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line we x6, Fig. 2.

A is the main furnace-wall, inclosing a hearth, B, main furnace-grate C, and auxiliary furnace-grate D, as shownin Fig. 1. E is a door, through which the reduced ore is raked from the hearth B. F is an opening in the wall A, through which air is admitted inte the furnace to assist in the oxidation of the ore, &c. Air is also admitted through furnace openings or doors D', O1, and E for the same purpose. G is a pipe, arranged in a tower, H. This pipe, at top, has a perforated plate or partition. y, through which the ore is showered into the pipe by a stirrer, g1, turning in the hopper g2.

The ore-pipe Gis surrounded by an annular due, l, up which the products of combustion pass to the stack J, through side flue K. L is a dust-chamber, formed by the continuation of the stack-opening J' down past the flue K, as shown in Fig. 4.

It will be seen that by my construction the ore is dropped down through the pipe G without being subjected to contact with the products of combustion while within thepipe. The pipe G is supported on a base, G', having an opening onto the hearth B.

The operation of my improved furnace is as follows: On the grate C is the main fire, and on the grate D a moderate lire, so that the fire at O will supply a large per cent. of carbureted hydrogen, which passes over the bridge-wall G2, (with or without a supply of air from opening (51,) to the open side of the base G1, where it meets with a supply of heated air admitted into the furnace through openings D E F, and an intense heat is geilerated at that point, the products of combustion ascending the annulariiue I, then through iue K into the stack J.

It is evident that the intensity of the heat at the mouth of the hase G can be regulated and controlled by the amount of fuel used, and the quantity of air supplied through openings G1 D E F. The heat in the annular iiue I keeps the ore-pipe G very hot, especially at the bottom, and the pulverized ore being fed in at the top of said pipe G is subjected to a gradually-increasing heat as it is showered down through said pipe, its velocity being in proportion to the amount of gases evolved from the ore, combined with the amount of draft, which is downward in this pipe. The ore, when it reaches the opening in the base G, has acquired sufficient momentum tocarry it through the flame at that point onto the hearth B, from which it is removed through door E.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of the vertical pipe G, surrounded by an annular Hue, I, and a base, G1. having an open front, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the pipe G, having open base G1, of the furnaces C and D, the furnace G arranged to direct the products of combustion in front of the opening in said base and around the same, and the furuaceD arranged to maintain a dame at the exit of said pipe, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The hearth B and furnace C, in combination with the ues I and K, stack J, and dustchamber L, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The hearth B, furnaces C and D, pipe G, open base G', annular due I, perforated parttion g, stirrer g1, and hopper g, in combina.- tion with the Hue K, stack J and dust-chamber L, as and for the purpose set forth.

MATHEW D. BRETT.

Witnesses:

ROBERT BURNS, C. W. H. BROWN. 

